Fonds PP - Adina Janzen fonds

Identity area

Reference code

CA MHC PP

Title

Adina Janzen fonds

Date(s)

  • 1903-1988 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

7 cm of textual records

Context area

Name of creator

(1924-2009)

Biographical history

Adina Janzen was born Adina Epp on March 24, 1924 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, South Russia (modern-day Ukraine) to mother Anna Heinrichs (1890-1977) and father Johann P. “Hans” Epp (1884-1974). Shortly after Adina was born her parents moved to Nikolaipol, Jasykowo (modern-day Ukraine) where her father worked as a bookkeeper. A little later Adina's father was exiled to Siberia and didn't return until 1939. Adina studied to become a teacher and earned her elementary teaching certification in 1944. While visiting her parents in Warthegau (Poland) on January 18, 1945, Adina and her family were ordered to leave, and like many other Mennonite families from the Ukraine, they continued to flee westward. Adina, her sister Johanna, and mother traveled by wagon to reach Berlin. In 1947 the Epp family sailed with the “Volendam” ship to Paraguay where they settled in the colony of Friesland. In 1954 the family immigrated to Canada where Adina Epp married Hans Janzen (1926-1988) in Steinbach, Manitoba in 1955. By 1956 the family was living in Vancouver where their son Arthur Janzen was born, and where they spent the remainder of their lives. Adina Janzen died in Vancouver, BC on 14 July 2009.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Donated by Adina’s granddaughter Anna Maria Janzen in 2016.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

This fonds consists of diaries and other documents which primarily document the life of Adina Janzen (nee Epp). It includes diaries covering 1940-1943 while she attended school in Kiev. Further diaries cover the period from 1943-1947 when Mennonites fled from Russia into Germany and their migration to Paraguay. These entries document her thoughts, feelings, and emotions during the migration. There are legal records pertaining to her birth and citizenship and family genealogical records compiled at various time which provide family background in Russia. The materials also cover the period after she immigrated to Canada.

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Accruals

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Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Many of these documents have considerable water damage and are in a delicate condition.

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Generated finding aid

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Notes area

Note

Accession number 2016-009

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Dates of creation revision deletion

Described by Katie Lynch June 2019.
Edited by AHR October 2019.

Language(s)

  • English
  • German
  • Russian

Script(s)

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